On behalf of the Town of Bel Air, I would like to thank the citizens of greater Bel Air for their attendance and enthusiasm at the Sunday, December 3, 2017, Town of Bel Air Christmas Parade and Celebration.

This year’s weather was THE BEST! I don’t know how much that affected things, but it surely helped attract one of the largest crowds I’ve ever seen in downtown Bel Air (even with a Ravens home game happening at the same time!), and I’ve run almost 40 parades through the downtown area. The clear skies, lack of wind and warm sun through sunset time also allowed us to extend the Shamrock Park phase of the event a few minutes longer than last year, which was fun!

My wife and I walked the route just behind the end of the parade and we were astounded at the size of the crowds. I was particularly pleased to see so many children enjoying the sights and sounds. The joy on the faces of the kids and families reflected the values of our community and the love we all have for this season. We are lucky to live in such an area, and to have such citizens turn out. Bel Air is indeed a wonderful, family-friendly place, and it’s events like this that make that clearly apparent to all.

The parade includes many different kinds of units, from marching bands to motorcycles and horses, and this year’s parade included many very elaborate and creative floats, but overall the Bel Air Christmas Parade is of, for and all about KIDS. Hundreds — THOUSANDS — of kids aged from toddlers through teenagers participated in it. To see their commitment, organization, dedication and wonderful good spirits made me, for one, very, very optimistic about the future of our community and of our nation. And I want to thank their parents and families for supporting these wonderful kids!

Special thanks must go to the many hard-working volunteers who put the entire celebration together, especially including our parade marshals Annette Blum, Aaron Cahall, Trish Heidenreich, Alex Krowzow, Sandy Saunders, Patti Sterling and David Williams, plus a very hard-working group of wonderful students from Bel Air High School, members of the National Honor Society under the supervision of Mrs. Kelly Blackburn: Kelly Antoshak, Noah Beyers, Ryan Chan, Arianna Dramis, Jared Haas, Carly Merrill, Julianna Parker, Sarah Quinn, Bryce Robertson, Zack Severino, Jenna Signorelli, Gabby Spires, Erik Uebelacker and Emily Weichert. Several of these excellent young people were already experienced Christmas Parade Marshals, and their savoir-faire really helped. All these students showed their high intelligence and leadership abilities as they did a fantastic job coping with our VERY chaotic and stressful staging! It takes a lot of people to keep such a parade in order, and all these volunteers worked beautifully together. Every single unit was present and deployed in the correct order — thanks to these marshals!

The Parade Business Sponsor Banners were carried by members of Cub Scout Pack 777, based at Bel Air United Methodist Church, organized by Hope Yamagata, who absolutely excelled at a very complex task. Thanks again, Hope!

The celebration was supported by Town of Bel Air Commissioners Mayor Susan Burdette (Chairman), Patrick Richards, Brendan Hopkins, Philip Einhorn and Amy Chmielewski, who led off the parade following Chief of Police Charles Moore. I also must thank the Town of Bel Air Administration, led by Town Manager L. Jesse Bane, for its support, and especially Bel Air Director of Economic Development Trish Heidenreich and her staff members Angela Robertson, Patti Sterling and Sandy Saunders. Thanks also to Town of Bel Air Director of Public Works Stephen Kline and his hard-working crew, led by Jake Maglov and Fred Murillo, who seemed to be anywhere anything was needed.

The 2017 Bel Air Christmas Parade was sponsored by local businesses including Buontempo Brothers Pizzeria/Tower Restaurant, Corbin Fuel Company, Cramer & Noorani Orthodontics, Harford Mutual Insurance Company, Jones Junction, Klein’s ShopRite of Harford County, Music Land, Safe Harbors Travel, Sunny Day Cafe and Zips Dry Cleaners. The bonfire was built and managed by Jay van Deusen with the help of Bel Air Public Works. Dina Boebel and Trish Heidenreich decorated the Reviewing Stand. Candy canes were given out Dina Boebel and her family of Elves. Country Britches Store on Main Street kindly allowed the parade to use its rooms for “costumed character” changing!

I also need to thank the hard-working members of the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, led by Executive Director Christine McPherson and her assistants Amber Pinder and Jennifer Falcone, who managed matters in Shamrock Park, where scads of folks enjoyed music, hot chocolate and cookies, and who were responsible for the budgeting of the entire event.

The entire celebration could not have been done without the unflinching support and assistance of the Town of Bel Air Police Department, and especially Police Chief Charles Moore and Deputy Chief Richard Peschek.

At the parade reviewing stand, our parade judges were Judges Yolanda Curtin, Mimi Cooper, David Carey and Delegate Susan McComas, assisted by Trish Heidenreich. Tracy Hart from FM 104.7 did a wonderful job narrating the proceedings. The fabulous early entertainment was provided by the Route 66 Band, whose spirited and upbeat music really made Main Street into a “Winter Carnival”!

Special thanks also to our local high school bands: the Bel Air High School Marching Bobcats, the C. Milton Wright High School Marching Mustangs, the Edgewood High School Marching Rams , the Fallston High School Marching Cougars, the Harford Technical High School Marching Cobras, the John Carroll School Patriots, the Joppatowne High School Marching Mariners, the North Harford High School Marching Hawks and the Patterson Mill High School Marching Huskies. Having nine local bands was a record for this parade, I believe!

At Shamrock Park, after the parade, Master of Ceremonies Jim McMahan led the crowd in Christmas Carols, accompanied by a wonderful performance by the Bel Air Community Band, led by Scott Sharnetzka, and the “Just Having Fun Singers,” ably assisted by our very special guest Major General Randy Taylor, Commandant of APG. At 4:55 pm, there was the traditional “tree lighting,” created by the Town of Bel Air Public Works Department.

On a personal note, I want to thank the Town of Bel Air for having the heart and sensitivity to mount such a celebration. The Holiday Season (whether one celebrates Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or any other holiday) is one of joy, and is the time to celebrate life and family, and to give to charity and to the community. It is the season of hope, birth and rebirth, and of the fellowship of humankind. As the days grow dark and cold, we illuminate and warm our community and our lives by the love we share through events like this. We look forward to the return of light, warmth and growth, both physical and spiritual, in the New Year, and we pray for peace for us, for our community, and for all humanity.

Yours most sincerely,

Michael Blum
Parade Chairman
Bel Air Christmas Celebration 2017

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Outstanding parade and celebration! Mike Blum, you did an amazing job. Many thanks to you for all the events you organize including the Christmas parade, the July 4th parade, and the Halloween Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treat event at the Festival. The town of Bel Air is very blessed to have you.

Thanks Calvary Baptist Church for letting us park in your lot and shuttle our singers to the band shell. Many of our folks would not have been able to make the hike from having to park far away. Your kindness is appreciated! Phil Pace, Just Having Fun Singers.